Well, where should I start? The beginning. My wife, Julie, and I attended the final Guns 'n' Roses US concert tour here at Qualcomm Stadium last night. Full attendance (approximately 60,000 fans).

We were invited by a good friend who happens to be the mother-in-law of one of the original band members who shall remain nameless. While we certainly appreciated the kind gesture, which included great seats, VIP treatment, and the after concert party for family and friends...it was awful.

Don't get me wrong, the band performed for about 3 1/2 (very long) hours without a break. They performed their music note for note without a noticeable glitch. Tremendous talent. Huge pyrotechnics and the biggest stage show I have ever seen...and I've seen a lot.

But I hate the music.

Sure, I like Sweet Child O' Mine -- and Paradise City is alright, I suppose. And, I should add, if you are a fan then you probably would have absolutely loved it as evidenced by the crowd reaction to them. Their energy was more like those in their mid 20's not their mid 50's.

But...

It was insanely loud. Eardrum shredding LOUD. We had ear plugs in the whole show and it was still LOUD.

Whatever happened to the importance of nuanced melodies and lyrics? With that level of volume it all gets lost in distortion. A pity.

The other troubling item for me was the nearly "satanic" delivery. It's the only word I can think of to describe what we witnessed. The screaming Axl Rose sounded like he was burning in hell. Has that always been his main appeal?

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/Greg BurnhamAdmin

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- JFK

"It is difficult to abolish prejudice in those bereft of ideas. The more hatred is superficial, the more it runs deep." -- Farewell America (1968)

“The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence." -- JFK

"A wise man can act a fool, but a foolish man can never act wise." -- Unknown

"[Y]ou can't blame the innocent, they are always guiltless. All you can do is control them or eliminate them. Innocence is a kind of insanity." -- Graham Greene, The Quiet American

"If an individual, through either his own volition or events over which he had no control, found himself taking up residence in a country undefined by flags or physical borders, he could be assured of one immediate and abiding consequence. He was on his own, and solitude and loneliness would probably be his companions unto the grave." -- James Lee Burke, Rain Gods

a wind has blown the rain away and blown
the sky away and all the leaves away,
and the trees stand. i think i too have known
autumn too long
-- e. e. cummings

To the best of my knowledge, the great jazz alto saxphonist Charles McPherson makes his home in San Diego.

Find him. Hear him. Report.

That is all.

Greg Burnham likes this

"[Y]ou can't blame the innocent, they are always guiltless. All you can do is control them or eliminate them. Innocence is a kind of insanity." -- Graham Greene, The Quiet American

"If an individual, through either his own volition or events over which he had no control, found himself taking up residence in a country undefined by flags or physical borders, he could be assured of one immediate and abiding consequence. He was on his own, and solitude and loneliness would probably be his companions unto the grave." -- James Lee Burke, Rain Gods

a wind has blown the rain away and blown
the sky away and all the leaves away,
and the trees stand. i think i too have known
autumn too long
-- e. e. cummings